FEATURE:
Spotlight
Tash Blake
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THIS is an artist I am…
really excited about and think is going to dominate in 2026. One of the most exciting artists I have heard in a long time, Tash Blake should be on your radar. Blake is a Los Angeles-born, N.Y.C.-based singer, dancer, and amazing artist who draws inspiration from artists such as Madonna, Britney Spears, and Lady Gaga. Blake has released wonderful E.P.s including Poster Girl, and Atomic Blonde. The epic Poster Girl was released last year. I think 2025 was her most successful and notable year to date. Though I feel that this one is going to be even bigger and better. I am going to come to some interviews from last year with Tash Blake. However, I want to first head back to 2023. That was the year her Atomic Blonde E.P. was released. Featuring standout tracks Mannequin, and So Bad Together, I do feel that Tash Blake gravitates more towards Madonna. In terms of her style and sound, you think of the Queen of Pop. However, Tash Blake very much has her own sound and brilliance. It would be amazing if Blake and Madonna collaborated on something. I am starting out with Wonderland Magazine and their 2023 interview with Tash Blake:
“LA-based singer-songwriter Tash Blake grew up immersed in the world of music, dance, and musical theatre. Learning the power of stage presence from a young age and experimenting with writing songs from the age of eight years, she has honed her sound and created something truly magical. After releasing her debut single, “Mannequin”, in December, Tash has grown a substantial fanbase who connect with her honesty and powerful inspiration. With follow-up singles “So Bad Together” and “Inject Me”, it is clear that she knows who she is — and has the ability to help others feel the same through her music.
When did you start creating music?
I’ve been singing since I could talk. I started writing songs when I was 8 that I’d be embarrassed for anyone to hear now. When I was 15, I recorded my first song and I knew that I needed to be creating music forever.
How would you describe your sound?
Dance pop with a hint of darkness, grit, shimmer, and love!
Do you have a typical songwriting process?
My songwriting process definitely changes depending on the day. Half the time, a concept or a melody will come to me and I immediately have to voice memo it or write it down. Other times, in the studio, I love to just vibe with the producer and see where it takes us!
How did your debut single, “Mannequin”, — and its visuals — set the stage for what listeners can expect from you as an artist?
Dropping “Mannequin” first was important to me in multiple ways. I definitely had to get certain emotions off my chest in order to move forward, and I also wanted it to be known that I am not afraid of saying things others don’t necessarily feel comfortable to say out loud. Visually speaking, the goal was to represent myself in an equally raw and provocative way because that is who I am at my core. Because of this, I feel that I have the ability to express myself in many different directions — no limitations.
What are you most looking forward to in the near future?
I am putting out my debut EP later this year and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with everyone! I also am thrilled to be on stage and to be meeting people in person. I love that type of connection. Seeing their reactions will be everything to me! I’ll be performing this summer — definitely hitting New York, Chicago, and LA”.
This is another great artists that I have overlooked until this point. I do think that she is going to truly explode this year. In May, Tash Blake spoke with Naluda Magazine about her incredible E.P., Poster Girl, and the high price of fame. An artist who is going to connect with so many people, Blake also discussed “raw about fame, fantasy, and finding power in vulnerability“. I do think this year will be another defined by women in Pop. Tash Blake is someone who sits alongside the best Pop artists of today:
“You mentioned that navigating success and self-doubt feels like an emotional tug-of-war. How do you personally balance ambition with protecting your mental health?
Whenever I start to think about time passing by and “losing time,” I tend to go to a darker place. I typically turn to my family and friends and try to surround myself with people who have always been there for me to get my mind off of it and try to rewire my brain that way. Baking and binge watching classic horror movies like “The Shining” helps too. Protecting my mental health is still a process for me, but I am really working on creating boundaries for myself. I never want to get to a place where I don’t enjoy the work anymore, because music is my life, and I wouldn’t know who I was without it.
Your style blends vulnerability and power in a really striking way. How do you channel those emotions when you’re creating new music?
Thank you! I have always loved showing the dichotomy of humanity. I never want something to feel only “hard” or only “soft.” I am always feeling many emotions nearly simultaneously—confidence and self-doubting, assuredness and anxiety. Similarly, I love wearing oversized sweatshirts and tees with no makeup and also very stylized outfits with glam! There are no limits in any part of my life. Throughout the years, I have continued to understand myself better, and I feel that this past year, I have really dug deeper within myself so that I can be as honest as possible in my music.
You’re already working on your next project in Sweden — can you tease how your sound might evolve with these new influences?
Sweden is such an incredible place. It was so inspiring to work with such a talented group of writers and producers and I am incredibly proud of the music I have coming your way! It feels like the most “me” that I have ever been. I don’t want to spoil too much, but I will say that I’m definitely experimenting with sounds and structures of songs and using my voice in different ways! I’m so excited to share it with everyone!
What advice would you give to your younger self, and why?
I would tell myself to always trust your instincts because the gut feeling is always accurate, for better or worse.
If you could have coffee with any historical figure to discuss current events, who would it be and why?
Anne Frank, because I think she would offer a lot of perspective on many aspects of society and world events right now.
Best advice ever given?
To always be the biggest believer in yourself and others will start to believe too. Also, to always look someone in the eye when talking to them as a sign of respect”.
There are two features I want to end with that focus on the excellent single, Die in Your Arms. One of the best singles of last year in my view, Flaunt covered Die in Your Arms in their review. I think that it shows that Tash Blake has grown as an artist since 2023. Her work from last year is her most confident and memorable:
“In her new single, “Die In Your Arms,” Blake turns inward, and it carries power and intensity, a force that takes you on a wild ride. Blake’s voice, beautiful and commanding as ever, tells the story of being in a relationship you know isn’t good for you, yet you can’t walk away. It’s like a drug; you know what it will do to your body, but you just keep coming back.
Musically, “Die In Your Arms” is incredibly catchy. Blake’s influences shine through here; if you’re a fan of Lady Gaga, you’ll feel right at home. The high production quality is evident from the very first note, with every element meticulously crafted to create a polished and immersive sound. The combination of fantastic vocals, dynamic instrumentation, and intricate production techniques gives us a track full of spunk.
“‘Die In Your Arms’ is an electrifying and emotionally charged love song that is your best therapy session at 3 AM, when the only medicine is dancing through the tears. I wanted to write a song that captured the feeling of being in a relationship where you feel so bad, but it hurts so good. Think heartache wrapped in glitter; a cathartic release of emotion that makes you want to cry, dance, and scream all at once,” says Tash Blake.
“Die In Your Arms” is the kind of song you can listen to in the shower, on the bus ride home, or while walking alone in the middle of the night with your thoughts and the music. It feels like it’s tempting you to do something forbidden, and sometimes, it’s good to surrender to that feeling, let your lust win, and just enjoy yourself a little more”.
I will end with The Luna Collective and their interview with Tash Blake. A single that caught a lot of attention and resonated with her fans, Tash Blake selected her favourite lyrics from the song. Die in Your Arms is one of these songs that stays in your head. An instant gem that you will want to play again and again. A genius young artist with so many years ahead:
“LUNA: You’ve called it “heartache wrapped in glitter,” which feels so cinematic. How do you approach writing about pain in a way that still feels empowering and glamorous?
BLAKE: I think that I always start from a real place. The core has to be real. Then, fantasy or surrealism comes into play. I envision so many things in life like a movie, whether it may be a sad or happy scene, or anything in between. The drama is real, haha! Writing about heartache doesn’t have to be painful — it can actually take something traumatic and turn it into something beautiful.
LUNA: What is your favorite set of lyrics from this track?
BLAKE: My favorite set of lyrics would have to be: “You nail my heart to the wall / Hung me up like a piece of art.” Those lyrics describe how someone can look at you and think you’re beautiful, but they still aren’t seeing you for the person you are inside. Similar to hanging art on your wall — you’re looking at it from a distance, not necessarily valuing the emotion, work, or effort that went into it. Basically, those lyrics are all about being undervalued.
LUNA: As a performer, dancer, and artist, movement clearly plays a huge role in your storytelling. How does choreography influence the way you write or experience your own music?
BLAKE: So much of my process when creating music is inspired by dance or being on stage. I’ll come up with a melody or hear a beat in the studio and immediately imagine how it would feel on stage — how it would feel in my language of choreography, and how the audience would respond. Dance helps me understand the emotion of a song on a deeper level, and for me, music and movement are inseparable.
LUNA: You’re inspired by icons like Madonna, Britney Spears, and Lady Gaga — artists who’ve built entire worlds through their visuals and sound. What lessons have you drawn from them in shaping your own universe?
BLAKE: Madonna taught me to never be afraid to reinvent yourself. Reinvention is authenticity at its finest. Every era of my music reflects who I am in that time of my life, and my audience knows that when I shift, it will always be genuine and intentional. Britney proves that pop music isn’t shallow — it is storytelling. She taught me that every performance, lyric, or even a personal life moment can be a part of the world you are building as an artist. I will never hide my imperfections; they just add to my world. The Pop Dungeon, where my fans, The Tashpit, and I co-exist, is a reflection of how pop music and life can be glamorous and chaotic, shiny and gritty all at the same time. Similarly to Gaga, I visualize the world in a theatrical and surreal way and have always related to darker themes. Some people think that’s strange, but to me, things are even more beautiful in the dark. Fashion is a huge part of who I am as a person and an artist, and expressing myself through what I wear is essential. Gaga is a huge fashion inspiration of mine. Lady Gaga has taught me to embrace the darkness and share it with my fans. She also taught me that it’s alright to use fantasy to express your own vulnerability”.
I can’t see any tour dates for this year listed yet, though you know Tash Blake will hit the road soon, and I hope that she comes to the U.K. It would be brilliant to see her. After a huge year, this one is going to be the best of her career. So much lies ahead for the N.Y.C.-based queen. If she is not currently in your sights, then make sure you correct this. Tash Blake is primed to be…
A future star.
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